The Christmas atmosphere is vibrant in this parish.

From churches and residential areas to individual homes, everywhere is filled with lights, colors, and the joyful celebration of Christmas, creating a vibrant, warm picture deeply rooted in religious culture and community life.

Photo caption — The parishioners decorated the Nativity scene at Bac Trach Parish Church (Tay Tien Hai commune, Hung Yen province).

Busy preparing for the big holiday.

In mid-December, at Bac Trach Parish – one of the largest parishes in the Tien Hai area of the former Thai Binh province (now Tay Tien Hai commune, Hung Yen province) – the atmosphere of Christmas preparations was bustling and lively. From early morning, the church grounds were filled with laughter and chatter, with parishioners clearly dividing up the tasks: some erected the nativity scene, others arranged flowers and hung lights, and still others decorated the Christmas tree and miniature landscapes. Each step was carried out meticulously and carefully, with the desire to vividly recreate the scene of the Nativity scene, where Jesus was born, while also creating a beautiful and solemn space for parishioners and visitors to attend the service, have fun, and take commemorative photos.

Carefully adjusting each string of decorative lights in the nativity scene, Mr. Nguyen Van Thang (Tay Tien Hai commune) shared that for Catholics, Christmas is the most important and sacred holiday of the year. It's not simply a religious holiday, but also carries profound meaning about faith and love, with a message of peace , charity, and hope for humanity. Therefore, Christmas is considered the beginning of a new year in their faith life, a time for people to reflect on their journey of living their faith and strive towards better values.

As a residential area with a large Catholic population, since the beginning of December, the people of Bac Trach village have gathered and agreed on a plan to prepare for Christmas 2026. This year, the scale of the celebration at Bac Trach Parish is larger than in previous years, so everyone is very joyful and excited. Christmas activities and programs are being organized early, starting on December 23rd instead of concentrating on December 24th and 25th as before. Everyone is enthusiastic and eager to contribute to making the holiday solemn and meaningful.

With a strong spirit of solidarity, taking advantage of the early morning or late afternoon, the people of Bac Trach Parish worked together to "build" the Bethlehem nativity scene, decorate the Christmas tree, and install additional lighting and string lights.

According to Mr. Bui Van Phi from Bac Trach village, every year, as Christmas approaches, he and the villagers gather to decorate the church, the roads, and then their own homes. Those who can contribute their strength do so, those who can contribute their resources do so, all working towards the common goal of organizing a peaceful and warm Christmas season.

Bringing communities together, spreading love.

Christmas is just one week away. The Christmas spirit isn't just present in church grounds; it's spreading to every family, street, and neighborhood.

Mr. Nguyen Van Trieu, from Tay Tien Hai commune, said that it has become an annual tradition for his family to decorate and light up their house with bright lights every Christmas. This has become a habit, making the Christmas atmosphere arrive early, and family members eagerly await it. On Christmas Eve, his family goes to church together, then returns home to gather around the family dinner, wishing for a peaceful and prosperous new year.

At the Cathedral (Thai Binh Ward), the Christmas atmosphere is incredibly vibrant and lively. A giant Christmas tree has been erected along with a huge nativity scene, and the area around the church is decorated with dazzling LED lights. Even before Christmas, this place always attracts a large number of people, especially young people, who come to visit, have fun, and take photos every evening. Along with churches, parishes, and chapels, many public areas and businesses in Hung Yen province are also brightly decorated with lights, Christmas trees, and other Christmas symbols.

In modern life, the meaning of Christmas has expanded beyond just religion, becoming an occasion for people to celebrate together, practice humanitarian values, promote kindness, share, and connect. The atmosphere of this important holiday contributes to enriching cultural and spiritual life, and strengthening solidarity between people of different faiths within the community.

According to the Hung Yen Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, the province currently has three religions recognized by the State: Buddhism, Catholicism, and Protestantism, with approximately 530,000 followers, accounting for about 16.5% of the population. Over the years, emulation movements among religious communities in the province have been increasingly emphasized and developed. Throughout the province, 2,713 temples and 1,357 parishes/religious groups have been recognized as exemplary; of which, 243 temples and 145 parishes/religious groups have achieved the title of exemplary for five consecutive years. Religious leaders and followers actively participate in campaigns and charitable and humanitarian activities, fostering unity and solidarity between religious and non-religious communities.

As the New Year 2026 approaches, amidst the peaceful Christmas atmosphere, Catholic parishioners in parishes and congregations throughout the province continue to uphold the tradition of living a "good life and a beautiful faith," honoring God and loving the country, working alongside the local government and people, contributing to strengthening national unity, and jointly building a more prosperous, civilized, and happy Hung Yen homeland.

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